As adventurous travelers who have successfully completed the K2 base camp trek, we’re often pondered with questions from curious individuals like, ‘How to prepare for the trek?’, ‘What are the necessary requirements for this trek?’, ‘What is the difficulty level of this journey?’, and much more.
This is the place to answer all your queries. If you plan to embark on a trip to K2 base camp trek, this must-read guide will greatly help you. Scroll down and learn about the necessary details regarding the K2 Base Camp trek.
Why choose the K2 base camp trek?
As trekking enthusiasts, we have conquered many treks. But this trek to K2 base camp holds a special place in our hearts. K2, the world’s second-highest peak with a height of 8,611 meters (28,251 feet), resides in the Karakoram ranges in the Gilgit-Baltistan province of Pakistan.
The multi-day expedition from Askole (the last village in the Shigar district) leads you to Concordia, the base camp of K2 and a viewpoint that offers a 360-degree panoramic of 4 eight-thousanders. This means you can have a mesmerizing view of K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I, and Gasherbrum II in one frame. Furthermore, the place has several peaks above 5000 meters in height that offer breathtaking vistas. Thus, this is why Concordia is proudly called the “Throne Room of Mountain Gods.”
The 7-day trek to Concordia is a rewarding journey that none should ever miss. And then, the wondrous view leaves everyone awestruck!
How long is the trek to K2 base camp?
If you start from Askoli, the trek requires 6-7 days to reach Concordia and seven more days to return. Hence, it makes 15 days of total trip, including the night stay in Concordia. It can vary with the itinerary of the chosen tour group and their rest points. Besides, each day also requires a 7-8 hours long tedious trek.
What is the difficulty level of the K2 base camp trek?
If you ask us, the K2 base camp trek is not on an extreme level of difficulty. However, it does involve various challenges like trekking uphill on deadly narrow terrains, walking on rough paths, and hiking for long hours. It is a mixed track of plain, rocky, ascending, and descending paths.
You will not find any tuck shops along the way. Therefore, bring everything with yourself. You cannot hike individually because it is one of the most popular and challenging treks. Everyone is required to be accompanied by a licensed guide. At Askole, your tour group will help you hire a porter to carry the load and food along the way. They usually carry 12 kg of load, and you carry the rest. A porter charges around PKR 1000 for one kg weight. It is recommended not to carry more than 7 kg weight in your backpack as it can drain your energy during the trek.
How to prepare for the K2 base camp trek?
As we already highlighted the difficulty level of this trek, one needs to be completely prepared before embarking on it. Even though it might be challenging, but with proper gear, fitness, and enthusiasm, anyone can successfully complete it.
To prepare for the trek, it is recommended to start exercising at least a month before the trip. Look for upper and lower-body workouts while carrying heavy bags to help you improve your trekking stamina. So, make sure to get a complete checkup and approval from your doctor. The trek will require great physical effort; therefore, everyone should be well-prepared.
What are the necessary requirements for the K2 base camp trek?
Before setting off for the K2 base camp journey, it is important to have proper gear for the grueling trek. So, these are the essentials that we recommend you take along with you.
Clothing:
- Warm clothes
- Hiking shirts
- Warm trousers
- Raincoat
- Flip-flop or sandals
- Three pairs of thick hiking socks
- Sturdy hiking boots (at least one waterproof)
- Thick gloves
Gear:
- Two rainproof backpacks (one bag and one main luggage).
- One or two hiking sticks
- Two water bottles
- UV protection sunglasses
- Waterproof inflatable sleeping mattress
- A hat
- Light trekking towel
- Multipurpose tool
- Extra batteries for the camera
- Power bank
Toiletries:
- Sunscreen SPF 50+
- Lip balm
- Baby wipes
- Toilet paper
- Toothbrush and paste
- Hairbrush
- Soap
- Shampoo
Other
First aid box along with necessary medicines. So, make sure to carry energy drinks and snacks like protein bars, chocolates, dried apricots, and dates. And most importantly, plenty of water.
Can we trek to the K2 base camp without a guide?
No, one cannot travel to Concordia without a guide, and neither it is recommended. Every traveler needs to accompany a government-licensed guide or a company. Due to the glacial environment and abrupt rockslides, the route can be misleading for solo adventurers. And moreover, most guides are the locals who have insights about the area.
How much does the K2 base camp expedition cost?
Now, as we browse for the cost, it can vary for various reasons. It can be under $1,500 or all the way up to 12,000 USD. This cost will be from Skardu to Skardu. Moreover, it includes night stays at the hotels, jeep ride charges, porter charges, camps, sleeping mates, and a kitchen tent to provide you with food throughout the journey.
Conclusion
With all that, we hope it prepares you for the adventurous trek journey to the K2 base camp. Although the tour might look demanding, but the epic adventure is worth your efforts. And you’ll never regret it once you reach the base camp with the breathtaking view of the mighty K2.
So, start preparing for the greatest journey of your life to the Karakoram ranges!
If the extreme weather of Karakoram ranges is your concern, read the blog here to know how to cope with it: How to Cope with Extreme Weather at K2 Base Camp: Top Tips